Analysis: Justices appear wary of sweeping ruling on marriageReports from today's Supreme Court oral arguments on the constitutionality of California's Proposition 8 suggest justices may be hesitant to issue a sweeping ruling in the case, if they decide it all. A significant portion of the hearing was dedicated to whether marriage-equality opponents had standing to bring the case; if the court rules that they don't, same-sex marriages would resume in California under a lower court ruling. Justice Anthony Kennedy, considered a swing vote, said the immediate needs of the 40,000 children of same-sex couples in California should be considered in the case. The Huffington Post
(3/26), The New York Times (tiered subscription model)
(3/26), The Associated Press
(3/26)

Historic moment at the high court: LGBT supporters this week gathered at vigils in places such as New York's Times Square, towns across Mississippi and the steps of the Supreme Court, where the future of legal marriage for same-sex couples in the U.S. could be decided today and Wednesday. Today, the justices heard arguments about the constitutionality of California's Proposition 8, a voter-passed initiative that ended marriages for same-sex couples. On Wednesday, lawyers will tangle over the constitutionality of Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act, which prevents the
federal government from recognizing the legal marriages of same-sex couples. Both Prop 8 and DOMA's section 3 have been struck down by lower federal courts. BuzzFeed
(3/25), Advocate.com
(3/26)

Analysis: What are the court's options? In the case about the constitutionality of California's Proposition 8, which took away the freedom of same-sex couples in the state to marry, the Supreme Court's decision could overturn all state bans across the U.S., or its ruling could apply only to the eight states that grant marriagelike rights, or just to California itself. In the case involving the Defense of Marriage Act, if the court decides a key section of the law is unconstitutional, then couples married in the District of Columbia and the nine states that recognize same-sex marriages will also be considered married by the federal government. If the court finds DOMA constitutional, the federal government would continue to consider only opposite-sex couples as legally married. The court could rule that it is powerless to decide the case at all if the justices conclude that lawyers for the U.S. House do not have standing to defend the law. The New York Times (tiered subscription model)
(3/23)

Is the Prop 8 case like Roe v. Wade? Experts disagree about whether a Supreme Court ruling favorable to marriage-equality supporters would interfere with states' progress on the issue. Some believe the Roe v. Wade decision preempted states' efforts to guarantee the legality of abortion and created a culture war. The New York Times (tiered subscription model)
(3/23)

Politics and Policy

3 senators announce support for marriage rightsSens. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., Mark Warner, D-Va., and Mark Begich, D-Alaska, have announced that they back marriage rights for same-sex couples. "While churches should never be required to conduct marriages outside of their religious beliefs, neither should the government tell people who they have a right to marry," McCaskill said on her Tumblr account. On Facebook, Warner explained, "[M]y views on gay marriage have evolved, and this is the inevitable extension of my efforts to promote equality and opportunity for everyone." CBS News
(3/25), Washington Blade (Washington, D.C.)
(3/25), BuzzFeed
(3/25)

On Capitol Hill, conservatives soften tone on marriage: Conservative lawmakers from the South are using softer language when expressing opposition to marriage equality, according to this article. Recently, Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, said his son coming out as gay helped change his mind on the issue. "I love my children just like Rob Portman does, and I think Rob Portman handled it exactly correct," said Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga. Chattanooga Times Free Press (Tenn.)
(3/24)

Could marriage switch fill Republican coffers?Political donors reluctant to support the GOP while it is seen as intolerant on LGBT issues could become more generous if the party becomes more inclusive, according to this article. "When we first started, donors were timid about supporting the group. That timidity has evaporated," said Jeff Cook-McCormac, a senior adviser to American Unity PAC, which encourages GOP candidates to back marriage equality. Politico (Washington, D.C.)
(3/25)

How Bill Clinton changed his mind on marriage, DOMAFormer President Bill Clinton has indicated to friends that his decision to sign the Defense of Marriage Act has haunted him ever since, this article says. Though some activists are still leery of his outward change of heart, former aides and friends talk about how Clinton has come to embrace marriage rights for same-sex couples and reject DOMA as unconstitutional. "We created a safe place where he could change his mind," said David Mixner, a political strategist. The New York Times (tiered subscription model)
(3/25)

Other than marriage equality and other partnership rights, what LGBT-related issues do you believe deserve the most attention now?

Employment nondiscrimination laws

Laws protecting gender identity and expression

Immigration reform that includes LGBT couples/families

Safe schools/anti-bullying laws and policies

Military issues including open service for trans troops

Other/Not sure

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Leadership Spotlight

GLAAD changes name to signal work on transgender issuesThe Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation will be known only by its acronym going forward, a move intended to highlight the organization's work on transgender and bisexual issues as well as gay and lesbian rights. "This is a reflection of the work we're doing today, and a reflection of the work the gay and lesbian community needs to be doing. Our name was hindering that in many instances," said Rich Ferraro, a GLAAD spokesman. MSNBC
(3/24)

Trans student leader sees politics as means to an endAmerican University senior Sarah McBride came out as transgender as she was ending her term as student body president, and that act helped propel her into political advocacy at the national level, including internships at the Victory Fund and the White House. McBride says she sees politics as a means to create change on a range of issues related to LGBT equality. The Washington Post
(3/24)

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